Periodontics

Information may not be reliable

Many of our patients are surprised to learn that the number one source of tooth loss among dental patients is undiagnosed periodontal disease. Unfortunately, many dentists do not take the time or place the proper emphasis on examining for and diagnosing periodontal disease. Periodontal disease starts as gingivitis, which results in a slight reddening, swelling, and sometimes bleeding of the gums. Gingivitis, if left untreated, will lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis is characterized by a worsening of these symptoms, plus the spread of bacteria below the gums into the bone. The more bone that is lost, the deeper the pockets are around the teeth. These pockets are havens for bacteria to colonize and multiply. The progression of this bone loss will eventually lead to loss of teeth. Depending on the severity of the periodontal disease, compliance of the patient in their dentist recommended home care, periodontal disease can be stopped and to some extent, reversed. Research has shown that the combined use of scaling, root planing and time released antibiotics used by Dr. Genis and his dental hygienists results in the best possible opportunity to maximize healing so that the overall bacterial load can be lessened, systemic complications can be eliminated, and bone loss can be arrested and possibly reversed all without the need for painful periodontal surgery.